In the same way the Bay Area’s precise geographic boundaries are a mystery, its native Olivia Austin makes music that’s tough to categorize. Under the name Operelly, she puts tender singer-songwriters to shame—her matured nursery rhymes transcend storybook whimsy and enter into a fresh musical space. Handwriting Practice No. 1, an EP released in May, is chock full of fancifully freakish vocals and eclectic arrangements; she pushes the boundaries of guitar music without having to turn things up to eleven. We sent the artist some questions before she hit the road to support quinnie across America. Read her answers, and listen to Handwriting Practice No. 1, below.   

How did you coin “tiptoe music”?

Operelly: At first it was just an easy title to describe some of the music I listened to. Now I've used it to describe the music I make. My music definitely wouldn't be stomp music, or heel clicks, or any other maneuvers you can make with your feet. The band Pram is a really good example, or Four Tet, or The American Analog Set. All tiptoe music. 

You have a degree in anthropology—do you use it in songwriting? Are you excavating yourself?

I use the cultural bit of my anthropology degree everywhere. I'm always studying pop culture and history. That's why I started taking humanities classes in the first place, it's my fixation. What's funny is I actually submitted the lyrics to “You Don't Have One Hope” in the form of a poem, with a supplemental essay about its relation to the practice of anthropology, for my UC applications essay. I was bullshitting everything. That’s not what the song’s about at all. It’s about a guy. And then I got into Berkeley, and I was like, “fuck.”

How’s postgrad life treating you? Any plans to leave the Bay Area?

Postgrad life is good to me and for me. I walked through the UC campus the other day to get to the Greek Theatre and the nostalgia wasn't hitting. It'll take a sec. As for leaving, my escape plan is big and beautiful. 

I read that you play guitar upside down. How did you learn? Have you ever regretted learning this way? Do you have a favorite lefty artist?

I wanted to be able to play every guitar I came across but unknowingly I nerfed myself a little when I made that decision. Definitely I take a liking to some open chord variations, I reckon, a lot of right-handed guitarists wouldn't immediately think to try, but the technique is nonexistent. I use my ear. Laetitia Sadier from Stereolab plays the same way. So did Cotten. So did Dick Dale. So does my friend Eli. But let's clear this up: everyone tells me, “you're like Hendrix, Olivia.” Hendrix played a right-handed guitar upside down, yes, but he restrung his shit. Stop comparing me to the GOAT, it's sooooo embarrassing!

Who inspires your vocal style? It’s so gorgeous, but it doesn’t feel totally intuitive.

Thank you. Well, I learned how to do runs from listening to Channel Orange in 8th grade. I love the clarity and smoothness that Trish Keenan's vocals possessed, and I think I tried to emulate that when I was a teenager. Now, I just sing like this, no references. But I can mimic other singers pretty well. You should hear my Bjork.

I stalked your Sp*tify, and saw you have a playlist of songs that remind you of A Spy in the House of Love. Besides Anaïs Nin, what are you reading?

I still love A Spy in the House of Love. I recommend it to guilty people. Right now, I transitionally live at home, which means I have access to a lot of my old writing. Yesterday, I read my old high school essays. If you want a real recommendation, though, I haven't wholly connected with a book since I read Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson. It raised my fiction standards.

You’ve made great cover choices—Pinback, Death Cab for Cutie, Lalleshwari ... How do you decide what to sing, and what to just listen to?

There are lots of covers I don't post. Sometimes it doesn't work out. I sing what I want, and then I'm very careful about what I upload. I'm directly inspired by both of the records those songs are on, the Pinback and Death Cab covers. I listen to We Have the Facts almost every day. 

Do you identify as twee?

Not explicitly. I can be a lot of things, most of which I don't even know yet. I’ve barely walked!

Photo Credit: Thandi Roe